WGL Holdings, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2005 Results

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WGL Holdings, Inc. (the Company), the parent company of Washington Gas Light Company (Washington Gas or the regulated utility) and other energy-related subsidiaries, today reported a net loss of $8.2 million, or $0.17 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2005, the third quarter of its fiscal year 2005. This compares to a net loss of $4.1 million, or $0.08 per share, for the same quarter of fiscal year 2004. Reporting a net loss for quarters ending June 30 is typical due to the seasonal nature of the Company's utility operations and the corresponding reduced demand for natural gas during this period. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2005, the Company reported net income of $114.9 million, or $2.35 per share, as compared to net income of $114.6 million, or $2.35 per share, reported for the corresponding period in fiscal year 2004. Unless otherwise noted, earnings per share amounts are presented in this news release on a diluted basis, and are based on weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding.

Commenting on third quarter results and the outlook for the remainder of the year, WGL Holdings' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. said, "Our third quarter results reflect our increasing ability to diversify our financial results through the successful performance of our non-regulated businesses, most notably retail energy-marketing which has achieved a record year-to-date earnings of $0.28 per share." DeGraffenreidt added, "This performance, together with continued customer growth at our regulated utility, should enable us to achieve our objective of generating 5 percent per annum average annual earnings growth from normal operations for fiscal year 2005."

Results from Normal Operations

The Company reviews its financial results from normal operations (based on normal weather, and uninfluenced by unique transactions) to monitor its progress towards achieving its five-year financial objectives. The Company's consolidated net loss from normal operations for the third quarter of fiscal year 2005 was $0.17 per share as compared to a net loss of $0.08 per share for the same quarter of fiscal year 2004. Results from normal operations for the current quarter, when compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year, reflect increased utility operating expenses including operation and maintenance, depreciation and amortization, and general taxes, as well as the effect of an anticipated rate increase in Virginia that was reflected in the prior year's third quarter results but excluded from the current year's results. Favorably affecting current quarter results from normal operations were increased earnings from the Company's major non-utility operations, utility customer growth and lower interest expense.

Excluding the effects of colder-than-normal weather and unique transactions described below, the Company's consolidated earnings from normal operations for the first nine months of fiscal year 2005 were $2.25 per share, an $0.18 per share increase over earnings from normal operations of $2.07 per share for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The increased earnings from normal operations for the current year-to-date period reflect improved results from the Company's major non-utility operations.

As discussed above, earnings from normal operations exclude the impact of variations from normal weather. The Company's regulated operations are weather sensitive, with a significant portion of its revenue coming from deliveries of natural gas to residential and commercial heating customers. Deviations in weather patterns from normal levels in the third quarters ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 did not have a significant impact on operating results; accordingly, results from normal operations for these periods do not exclude any effects of weather. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, weather, when measured by heating degree days, was 6.2 percent colder than normal, enhancing net income in relation to normal weather by an estimated $5 million, or $0.10 per share. For the nine months ended June 30, 2004, weather was 6.4 percent colder than normal, and contributed $10 million, or $0.20 per share, to net income for that period. The difference in the relative contribution to earnings of the colder-than-normal weather for the 2005 and 2004 year-to-date periods presented is later discussed.

Earnings from normal operations also exclude the impact of unique transactions related to the Company's utility and non-utility segments. There were no unique transactions in the third quarter of fiscal years 2005 or 2004, or in the current nine-month period. Earnings from normal operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 exclude the effect of an after-tax gain of $5.8 million, or $0.12 per share, realized in that period from the sale of two buildings by a third party in a commercial real estate project in which the Company held a carried interest. Earnings from normal operations for the 2004 nine-month period also exclude the effect of additional depreciation expense unrelated to that period of $3.5 million (pre-tax), or $0.04 per share, that was recorded in connection with a Virginia rate order.

Reconciliations of the Company's and regulated utility segment's earnings (loss) per share reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP) to earnings (loss) per share from normal operations are attached to this press release.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 Regulated Utility Operations

The operating results of the Company's regulated utility segment are the primary influence on consolidated operating results. For the three months ended June 30, 2005, the regulated utility segment reported a seasonal net loss of $11.1 million, or $0.23 per share, as compared to a net loss of $4.2 million, or $0.09 per share, for the same three-month period of the prior fiscal year. Operating results for the current quarter were favorably affected by the addition of more than 23,300 active customer meters, an increase of 2.4 percent, from the end of the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. This growth was more than offset by the effect of a Virginia rate increase in the prior year's third quarter that was not in effect in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, and higher operating expenses in the current quarter. As further discussed below, weather had a negligible effect on operating results for both the current and prior fiscal year's third quarter.

Comparisons between the third quarter of the current and prior fiscal year reflect the inclusion in the prior year's third quarter of an anticipated Virginia rate increase that went into effect on February 26, 2004, subject to refund. Since the Company did not ultimately receive an increase in its base rates in Virginia, the amount recorded through the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 was reversed in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004, and a similar amount was not recorded in the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.

Third quarter 2005 operating results for the regulated utility segment also reflect a $5.0 million (pre-tax), or $0.06 per share, increase in operation and maintenance expenses. The increased expenses primarily reflect: (i) higher labor expenses; (ii) increased employee benefits expenses principally related to post-retirement and group insurance costs; (iii) greater expenses associated with performing the initial assessment of internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (iv) higher expenses for uncollectible accounts. Higher labor expenses during the current quarter were due in part to increased overtime incurred in connection with the Company-wide response to issues that arose in a portion of the Company's distribution system in Prince George's County, Maryland such as special leak surveys, emergency response site visits and repairs. The increase in labor expenses for the current quarter was tempered by 3.8 percent fewer employees, reduced employee severance costs, and the inclusion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 of an accrual for unusual operational expenses that did not recur in the current quarter.

The regulated utility segment also incurred higher depreciation and amortization expense and higher general taxes, partially offset by lower interest expense. Although income tax benefits were greater in the current quarter due to a higher pre-tax loss, much of this effect was offset by a higher estimated annual effective income tax rate.

Weather was 21.3 percent colder in the current quarter than in the same quarter last fiscal year. However, total natural gas deliveries to firm customers increased only 2.7 million therms, or 1.6 percent, to 167.6 million therms delivered during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. Quarters ending on June 30 include months in which the Company is coming out of the primary portion of its winter-heating season. In such "shoulder" months, weather patterns may become erratic and some space-heating customers may turn off their furnaces for the remainder of the heating season upon the first significant rise in temperatures. Thus, usage patterns may not highly correlate with the level of degree days in periods that include shoulder months. Overall, weather had no significant effect on operating results for the current or prior year's third quarter.

Non-Utility Operations

On a segmented basis, the Company's non-utility operations reported net income of $2.9 million, or $0.06 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, as compared to net income of $119,000 for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increased earnings from non-utility operations principally were attributable to a $0.05 per share improvement in the operating results of the Company's retail energy-marketing segment.

The retail energy-marketing segment reported net income of $4.0 million, or $0.08 per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, a $2.6 million, or $0.05 per share, increase over net income of $1.4 million, or $0.03 per share, reported for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The year-over-year improvement in earnings for this segment reflects higher gross margins from the sale of natural gas, slightly offset by reduced gross margins from the sale of electricity. Gross margins per therm of natural gas sold increased over 60 percent, while natural gas sales volumes declined by less than one percent. This earnings improvement also reflects a $0.02 per share benefit in the current quarter for reduced expenses associated with uncollectible accounts due to enhanced recoveries of these accounts.

The Company's commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) segment reported a net loss of $600,000, or $0.01 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2005, a significant improvement over the net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.02 per share, reported for this segment for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. This improvement primarily reflects improved operating margins during the period.

Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005 Regulated Utility Operations

The regulated utility segment reported net income of $103.4 million, or $2.11 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2005, as compared to net income of $105.8 million, or $2.17 per share, for the corresponding nine-month period of the prior fiscal year. This comparison reflects a decrease in total natural gas deliveries to firm customers of 27.5 million therms, or 2.3 percent, to 1.189 billion therms delivered during the current nine-month period. Although natural gas deliveries fell by 2.3 percent, heating degree days were unchanged for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 when compared to the same period in fiscal year 2004. The decrease in natural gas deliveries to firm customers is due, in part, to warmer weather experienced primarily during the 2005 second quarter, the most significant period of the Company's winter-heating season. However, during the current nine-month period (particularly in certain months within the first and third quarters of fiscal year 2005), the Company experienced lower than expected natural gas deliveries because the increase in heating degree days did not correlate highly with the change in the volume of gas delivered. This was explained previously in the discussion of results for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

Favorably affecting earnings for the regulated utility segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 was a 2.4 percent increase in active customer meters from the end of the same period of the prior fiscal year. The current nine-month period also benefited from realizing the favorable effect of changes in rates charged to customers that were implemented in Maryland on November 6, 2003 and the District of Columbia on November 24, 2003. This benefit was mostly offset by the impact of an anticipated Virginia rate increase that went into effect on February 26, 2004, subject to refund, and was included in this segment's operating results for the nine months ended June 30, 2004, but that was not in effect during the nine months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of a regulatory order issued after June 30, 2004.

Current year-to-date earnings also reflect a $4.1 million (pre-tax), or $0.05 per share, increase in operation and maintenance expenses. This increase of 2.4 percent primarily reflects: (i) higher employee benefits expenses principally related to post-retirement and group insurance costs; (ii) increased overtime associated with work being performed in Prince George's County, Maryland; (iii) higher expenses associated with performing the initial assessment of internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (iv) higher expenses for uncollectible accounts. These increased expenses were partially offset by fewer employees, reduced employee severance costs, and an accrual recorded in the 2004 nine-month period for unusual operational expenses that were not incurred in the current nine-month period.

Depreciation and amortization expense for the current nine-month period declined by $2.8 million (pre-tax), or $0.04 per share. This decline was attributable primarily to depreciation expense of $3.5 million (pre-tax), or $0.04 per share, applicable to a previous accounting period, that was recorded during the first nine months of fiscal year 2004 pursuant to a Virginia rate order.

The regulated utility segment also benefited during the current year-to- date period from reduced income tax expense due to a lower effective income tax rate (primarily attributable to a non-taxable benefit of a Medicare prescription drug subsidy), and lower interest expense, partially offset by increased general taxes.

Non-Utility Operations

On a segmented basis, the Company's non-utility operations reported net income of $11.5 million, or $0.24 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2005, an increase of $2.6 million, or $0.06 per share, over the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The current nine-month period reflects a $0.16 per share improvement in the earnings of the retail energy- marketing segment and a $0.02 per share improvement for the commercial HVAC segment. Operating results for the same period of the prior fiscal year included a $5.8 million, or $0.12 per share, after-tax gain related to the sale of a carried interest in a commercial real estate project.

The retail energy-marketing segment reported net income of $13.9 million, or $0.28 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2005, more than double its net income of $6.1 million, or $0.12 per share, reported for the same period last fiscal year. The $7.8 million, or $0.16 per share, year-over-year improvement in earnings primarily reflects higher gross margins from the sale of natural gas. Although natural gas sales volumes declined by 1.1 percent, gross margins per therm increased over 50 percent. The higher gross margins from gas sales reflects the utilization of greater volumes of lower cost storage inventory, partially offset by the realization in the current nine- month period of mark-to-market losses associated with certain contracts used to hedge supply risks that occur due to the volatility in the price of natural gas. The earnings improvement for this segment also reflects a $0.03 per share benefit in the current year-to-date period for reduced expenses associated with uncollectible accounts due to enhanced recoveries of these accounts. Slightly tempering this improvement was a decline in gross margins from electric sales as the drop in sales volumes more than offset the increase in the margin per kilowatt hour sold.

The Company's commercial HVAC segment reported a net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.03 per share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2005, reducing its net loss by almost one-half of the net loss reported of $2.3 million, or $0.05 per share, for the same period last fiscal year. This improvement primarily reflects improved operating margins during the period.

Earnings Outlook

The Company is lowering its consolidated earnings estimate for the full fiscal year 2005 to a range of $1.92 per share to $1.98 per share from its previous guidance of $1.94 per share to $2.04 per share. This updated estimate includes an increase in projected full fiscal year 2005 earnings from its unregulated businesses to a range of $0.20 per share to $0.24 per share from the previous range of $0.16 per share to $0.20 per share. The annual guidance for the consolidated entity includes an estimated seasonal net loss for the fourth quarter ending September 30, 2005 in the range of $0.43 per share to $0.37 per share, which reflects a projected net loss from the Company's unregulated businesses in the range of $0.03 per share to $0.01 per share.

This guidance: (i) assumes an anticipated level of costs and a rate of incurrence of such costs throughout the remainder of fiscal year 2005 in connection with a large project being performed by the Company to address natural gas leaks in a portion of its distribution system in Prince George's County, Maryland, (ii) assumes no additional effect that may result from performing earnings tests pursuant to a December 18, 2003 rate order issued by the State Corporation Commission of Virginia and (iii) excludes the effect of other unusual items that could arise in the future. This earnings guidance has been determined on the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update this guidance. The absence of any statement by the Company in the future should not be presumed to represent an affirmation of the earnings guidance given herein.

Other Information

The Company will hold a conference call at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time on August 2, 2005, to discuss its third quarter financial results. The live conference call will be available to the public via a link located on the WGL Holdings Web site, http://www.wglholdings.com/. To hear the live Webcast, click on the Live Webcast link located on the home page of the referenced site. The Webcast will be archived for replay on the WGL Holdings Web site through August 31, 2005.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., WGL Holdings is the parent company of Washington Gas Light Company, a natural gas utility that serves approximately one million customers throughout metropolitan Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region. In addition, it holds a group of energy-related retail businesses that focus primarily on retail energy-marketing and commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning services.

Additional information about WGL Holdings is available on its Web site, http://www.wglholdings.com/.

Note: This news release and other statements by the Company include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the outlook for earnings, revenues and other future financial business performance or strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as, but not limited to, "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "plans," and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," and "could." Although the Company believes such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it cannot give assurance that every objective will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of today, and the Company assumes no duty to update them.

As previously disclosed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: the level and rate at which costs and expenses are incurred in connection with constructing, operating and maintaining the Company's natural gas distribution system; the ability to successfully implement approaches to modify the current or future composition of the gas being used to supply customers as a result of the introduction of Cove Point gas into the Company's natural gas distribution system; variations in weather conditions from normal levels; changes in economic, competitive, political and regulatory conditions and developments; changes in capital and energy commodity market conditions; changes in credit ratings of debt securities of WGL Holdings, Inc. or Washington Gas Light Company that may affect access to capital or the cost of debt; changes in credit market conditions and creditworthiness of customers and suppliers; changes in relevant laws and regulations, including tax, environmental and employment laws and regulations; legislative, regulatory and judicial mandates or decisions affecting business operations or the timing of recovery of costs and expenses; the timing and success of business and product development efforts and technological improvements; the pace of deregulation efforts and the availability of other competitive alternatives; terrorist activities; and other uncertainties. The outcome of negotiations and discussions the Company may hold with other parties from time to time regarding utility and energy-related investments and strategic transactions that are both recurring and non-recurring may also affect future performance. For a further discussion of the risks and uncertainties, see the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Please see the following comparative statements for additional information. Also attached is a reconciliation of the Company's earnings per share reported in accordance with GAAP to earnings per share from normal operations.

WGL Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income For Periods Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, (In thousands, except per share data) 2005 2004 UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues $ 197,629 $ 180,836 Less: Cost of gas 99,576 83,811 Revenue taxes 9,930 8,374 Utility Net Revenues 88,123 88,651 Other Operating Expenses Operation and maintenance 62,033 57,050 Depreciation and amortization 22,663 20,956 General taxes 10,389 8,014 Income tax expense (benefit) (5,931) (5,011) Utility Other Operating Expenses 89,154 81,009 Utility Operating Income (Loss) (1,031) 7,642 NON-UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues Retail energy-marketing 143,613 169,828 Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) 5,033 5,717 Other non-utility activities 386 471 Total Non-Utility Operating Revenues 149,032 176,016 Other Operating Expenses Operating expenses 143,397 176,305 Income tax expense (benefit) 2,200 (200) Total Non-Utility Operating Expenses 145,597 176,105 Non-Utility Operating Income (Loss) 3,435 (89) TOTAL OPERATING INCOME 2,404 7,553 Other Income (Expenses) -- Net (50) 216 INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE 2,354 7,769 Interest expense 10,217 11,567 Dividends on Washington Gas preferred stock 330 330 NET INCOME (LOSS) (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK) $ (8,193) $ (4,128) AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic 48,695 48,648 Diluted 48,695 48,648 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE Basic $ (0.17) $ (0.08) Diluted $ (0.17) $ (0.08) Net Income (Loss) Applicable To Common Stock-By Segment ($000): Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 2004 Regulated utility $ (11,053) $ (4,247) Non-utility operations: Retail energy-marketing 4,036 1,432 Commercial HVAC (600) (1,062) Total major non-utility 3,436 370 Other, principally non-utility activities (576) (251) Total non-utility 2,860 119 NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (8,193) $ (4,128) Nine Months Ended June 30, (In thousands, except per share data) 2005 2004 UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues $1,241,806 $1,144,798 Less: Cost of gas 712,746 619,575 Revenue taxes 50,804 42,653 Utility Net Revenues 478,256 482,570 Other Operating Expenses Operation and maintenance 177,568 173,476 Depreciation and amortization 66,277 69,122 General taxes 31,643 28,667 Income tax expense (benefit) 64,783 69,376 Utility Other Operating Expenses 340,271 340,641 Utility Operating Income (Loss) 137,985 141,929 NON-UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues Retail energy-marketing 634,819 637,766 Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) 24,557 20,497 Other non-utility activities 999 1,332 Total Non-Utility Operating Revenues 660,375 659,595 Other Operating Expenses Operating expenses 640,231 654,918 Income tax expense (benefit) 7,823 1,914 Total Non-Utility Operating Expenses 648,054 656,832 Non-Utility Operating Income (Loss) 12,321 2,763 TOTAL OPERATING INCOME 150,306 144,692 Other Income (Expenses) -- Net (1,985) 4,849 INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE 148,321 149,541 Interest expense 32,446 33,904 Dividends on Washington Gas preferred stock 990 990 NET INCOME (LOSS) (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK) $ 114,885 $ 114,647 AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic 48,684 48,638 Diluted 48,991 48,848 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE Basic $ 2.36 $ 2.36 Diluted $ 2.35 $ 2.35 Net Income (Loss) Applicable To Common Stock-By Segment ($000): Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005 2004 Regulated utility $ 103,390 $ 105,799 Non-utility operations: Retail energy-marketing 13,929 6,059 Commercial HVAC (1,288) (2,334) Total major non-utility 12,641 3,725 Other, principally non-utility activities (1,146) 5,123 Total non-utility 11,495 8,848 NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 114,885 $ 114,647 Twelve Months Ended June 30, (In thousands, except per share data) 2005 2004 UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues $1,364,956 $1,248,254 Less: Cost of gas 762,139 655,298 Revenue taxes 58,230 49,868 Utility Net Revenues 544,587 543,088 Other Operating Expenses Operation and maintenance 230,843 224,677 Depreciation and amortization 88,665 90,552 General taxes 39,520 35,718 Income tax expense (benefit) 53,870 55,384 Utility Other Operating Expenses 412,898 406,331 Utility Operating Income (Loss) 131,689 136,757 NON-UTILITY OPERATIONS Operating Revenues Retail energy-marketing 786,912 804,175 Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) 34,183 30,418 Other non-utility activities 1,340 1,546 Total Non-Utility Operating Revenues 822,435 836,139 Other Operating Expenses Operating expenses 801,485 831,676 Income tax expense (benefit) 8,084 2,665 Total Non-Utility Operating Expenses 809,569 834,341 Non-Utility Operating Income (Loss) 12,866 1,798 TOTAL OPERATING INCOME 144,555 138,555 Other Income (Expenses) -- Net (3,673) 5,159 INCOME BEFORE INTEREST EXPENSE 140,882 143,714 Interest expense 42,687 45,350 Dividends on Washington Gas preferred stock 1,320 1,320 NET INCOME (LOSS) (APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK) $ 96,875 $ 97,044 AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING Basic 48,676 48,629 Diluted 48,957 48,838 EARNINGS (LOSS) PER AVERAGE COMMON SHARE Basic $ 1.99 $ 2.00 Diluted $ 1.98 $ 1.99 Net Income (Loss) Applicable To Common Stock-By Segment ($000): Twelve Months Ended June 30, 2005 2004 Regulated utility $ 86,542 $ 89,180 Non-utility operations: Retail energy-marketing 16,150 6,905 Commercial HVAC (4,350) (2,571) Total major non-utility 11,800 4,334 Other, principally non-utility activities (1,467) 3,530 Total non-utility 10,333 7,864 NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 96,875 $ 97,044 WGL Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited) June 30, (In thousands) 2005 2004 ASSETS Property, Plant and Equipment At original cost $2,733,740 $2,636,132 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (796,647) (736,723) Net property, plant and equipment 1,937,093 1,899,409 Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents 68,756 105,594 Accounts receivable, net 184,615 229,989 Storage gas--at cost (first-in, first-out) 128,747 126,336 Other 44,628 41,803 Total current assets 426,746 503,722 Deferred Charges and Other Assets 133,471 142,702 Total Assets $2,497,310 $2,545,833 CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES Capitalization Common shareholders' equity $ 922,462 $ 887,974 Washington Gas Light Company preferred stock 28,173 28,173 Long-term debt 523,681 589,388 Total capitalization 1,474,316 1,505,535 Current Liabilities Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt 76,787 122,658 Accounts payable 164,947 188,598 Other 140,630 130,557 Total current liabilities 382,364 441,813 Deferred Credits 640,630 598,485 Total Capitalization and Liabilities $2,497,310 $2,545,833 WGL Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Financial and Operating Statistics For Periods Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited) COMMON STOCK DATA June 30, 2005 52 Week Closing Price Price Range $33.64 $33.96 - $26.91 Earnings Per Share Annualized Twelve Months Ended June 30, P/E Dividend Yield 2005 2004 Basic $1.99 $2.00 16.9 $1.33 4.0% Diluted $1.98 $1.99 FINANCIAL STATISTICS Twelve Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2005 2004 Return on Average Common Equity 10.7% 11.2% Total Interest Coverage (times) 4.7 4.4 Book Value Per Share (end of period) $18.94 $18.25 Common Shares Outstanding-end of period (thousands) 48,696 48,648 UTILITY GAS STATISTICS Three Months Ended June 30, (In thousands) 2005 2004 Operating Revenues Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm $ 118,468 $ 105,022 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 38,527 34,371 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 1,973 1,384 Electric Generation 275 275 159,243 141,052 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 22,331 25,217 Interruptible 7,162 6,593 Electric Generation 120 65 29,613 31,875 188,856 172,927 Other 8,773 7,909 Total $ 197,629 $ 180,836 Three Months Ended June 30, (In thousands of therms) 2005 2004 Gas Sales and Deliveries Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm 74,660 69,776 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 29,376 29,795 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 1,771 1,388 105,807 100,959 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 63,562 65,377 Interruptible 53,061 53,772 Electric Generation 16,370 9,823 132,993 128,972 Total 238,800 229,931 WASHINGTON GAS ENERGY SERVICES Natural Gas Sales Therm Sales (thousands of therms) 121,999 122,685 Number of Customers (end of period) 149,100 154,700 Electricity Sales Electricity Sales (thousands of kWhs) 598,222 1,790,375 Number of Accounts (end of period) 37,400 47,200 UTILITY GAS PURCHASED EXPENSE (excluding off system) 94.46c 83.14c HEATING DEGREE DAYS Actual 365 301 Normal 306 303 Percent Colder than Normal 19.3% (0.7)% Number of Active Customer Meters (end of period) 1,010,272 986,936 UTILITY GAS STATISTICS Nine Months Ended June 30, (In thousands) 2005 2004 Operating Revenues Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm $ 801,591 $ 728,674 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 251,958 221,093 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 7,059 6,283 Electric Generation 825 692 1,061,433 956,742 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 124,884 133,473 Interruptible 30,695 27,884 Electric Generation 236 215 155,815 161,572 1,217,248 1,118,314 Other 24,558 26,484 Total $ 1,241,806 $ 1,144,798 Nine Months Ended June 30, (In thousands of therms) 2005 2004 Gas Sales and Deliveries Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm 591,013 593,654 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 202,095 204,703 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 6,340 6,362 799,448 804,719 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 395,947 418,188 Interruptible 230,501 221,056 Electric Generation 34,879 31,540 661,327 670,784 Total 1,460,775 1,475,503 WASHINGTON GAS ENERGY SERVICES Natural Gas Sales Therm Sales (thousands of therms) 623,564 630,717 Number of Customers (end of period) 149,100 154,700 Electricity Sales Electricity Sales (thousands of kWhs) 1,961,340 5,196,816 Number of Accounts (end of period) 37,400 47,200 UTILITY GAS PURCHASED EXPENSE (excluding off system) 88.93c 75.51c HEATING DEGREE DAYS Actual 4,018 4,017 Normal 3,782 3,775 Percent Colder than Normal 6.2% 6.4% Number of Active Customer Meters (end of period) 1,010,272 986,936 UTILITY GAS STATISTICS Twelve Months Ended June 30, (In thousands) 2005 2004 Operating Revenues Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm $ 865,916 $ 779,248 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 276,107 238,003 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 8,354 8,064 Electric Generation 1,100 967 1,151,477 1,026,282 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 141,959 151,074 Interruptible 36,884 33,104 Electric Generation 299 321 179,142 184,499 1,330,619 1,210,781 Other 34,337 37,473 Total $1,364,956 $1,248,254 Twelve Months Ended June 30, (In thousands of therms) 2005 2004 Gas Sales and Deliveries Gas Sold and Delivered Residential - Firm 627,087 622,745 Commercial and Industrial - Firm 223,799 221,184 Commercial and Industrial - Interruptible 7,604 8,299 858,490 852,228 Gas Delivered for Others Firm 432,308 460,431 Interruptible 277,928 263,127 Electric Generation 44,391 46,626 754,627 770,184 Total 1,613,117 1,622,412 WASHINGTON GAS ENERGY SERVICES Natural Gas Sales Therm Sales (thousands of therms) 709,424 715,709 Number of Customers (end of period) 149,100 154,700 Electricity Sales Electricity Sales (thousands of kWhs) 3,423,450 7,294,691 Number of Accounts (end of period) 37,400 47,200 UTILITY GAS PURCHASED EXPENSE (excluding off system) 88.65c 75.24c HEATING DEGREE DAYS Actual 4,025 4,030 Normal 3,799 3,792 Percent Colder than Normal 5.9% 6.3% Number of Active Customer Meters (end of period) 1,010,272 986,936 WGL HOLDINGS, INC. (CONSOLIDATED) RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED GAAP EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Unaudited) August 1, 2005

The reconciliation below is provided to demonstrate management's utilization of historical earnings (loss) per share, as derived in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP), and adjusted earnings (loss) per share from normal operations, a non- GAAP measure. This reconciliation is provided to more clearly identify the results from normal operations for WGL Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the Company), and identify certain unique transactions that are not expected to repeat. This information should assist investors and analysts to track progress towards achieving the Company's five-year financial objectives, which are based on normal weather and uninfluenced by single, one- time, non-repeating transactions.

Utilization of normal weather is an industry standard, and it is the practice of the Company to provide estimates and guidance on the basis of normal weather. Actual performance and results may vary from normal weather projections, and the Company consistently identifies and explains this variation to assist users in the analysis of actual results versus the guidance. There may be other uses for the data, and the Company does not imply that this is the only use or the best use of this data for purposes of this analysis.

WGL Holdings, Inc. (Consolidated) Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share to Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Normal Operations Fiscal Year 2005 By Quarter (1) Fiscal Year 2005 Results Quarter Ended Year-To- Dec. 31 Mar. 31 Jun. 30 Sept. 30 Date GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.88 $1.63 $(0.17) $2.35 Adjustments for: Colder-than-normal weather - (0.10) - (0.10) Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share from normal operations $0.88 $1.53 $(0.17) $2.25 WGL Holdings, Inc. (Consolidated) Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share to Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Normal Operations Fiscal Year 2004 By Quarter (1) Fiscal Year 2004 Results Quarter Ended Year-To- Dec. 31 Mar. 31 Jun. 30 Sept. 30 Date GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.81 $1.62 $(0.08) $2.35 Adjustments for: Colder-than-normal weather - (0.20) - (0.20) Retroactive depreciation related to the period from from 1/02-11/02, per Virginia rate order 0.04 - - 0.04 Net gain on the sale of real estate - (0.12) - (0.12) Adjusted diluted earnings (loss)per share from normal operations $0.85 $1.30 $(0.08) $2.07 (1) Quarterly earnings (loss) per share may not sum to year-to-date or annual earnings (loss) per share as quarterly calculations are based on weighted average common shares outstanding which may vary for each of those periods. WGL HOLDINGS, INC. (REGULATED UTILITY SEGMENT) RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED GAAP EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Unaudited) August 1, 2005

The reconciliation below is provided to demonstrate management's utilization of historical earnings (loss) per share, as derived in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP), and adjusted earnings (loss) per share from normal operations, a non- GAAP measure. This reconciliation is provided to more clearly identify the results from normal operations for the Company's regulated utility segment, and identify certain unique transactions that are not expected to repeat. This information should assist investors and analysts to track progress towards achieving the Company's five-year financial objectives, which are based on normal weather and uninfluenced by single, one-time, non-repeating transactions.

Utilization of normal weather is an industry standard, and it is the practice of the Company to provide estimates and guidance on the basis of normal weather. Actual performance and results may vary from normal weather projections, and the Company consistently identifies and explains this variation to assist users in the analysis of actual results versus the guidance. There may be other uses for the data, and the Company does not imply that this is the only use or the best use of this data for purposes of this analysis.

WGL Holdings, Inc. (Regulated Utility Segment) Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share to Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Normal Operations Fiscal Year 2005 By Quarter (1) Fiscal Year 2005 Results Quarter Ended Year-To- Dec. 31 Mar. 31 Jun. 30 Sept. 30 Date GAAP diluted earnings (loss)per share $0.81 $1.52 $(0.23) $2.11 Adjustments for: Colder-than-normal weather - (0.10) - (0.10) Adjusted diluted earnings (loss)per share from normal operations $0.81 $1.42 $(0.23) $2.01 WGL Holdings, Inc. (Regulated Utility Segment) Reconciliation of Reported GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share to Adjusted Earnings (Loss) Per Share from Normal Operations Fiscal Year 2004 By Quarter (1) Fiscal Year 2004 Results Quarter Ended Year-To- Dec. 31 Mar. 31 Jun. 30 Sept. 30 Date GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.71 $1.54 $(0.09) $2.17 Adjustments for: Colder-than-normal weather - (0.20) - (0.20) Retroactive depreciation related to the period from 1/02-11/02, per Virginia rate order 0.04 - - 0.04 Adjusted diluted earnings (loss)per share from normal operations $0.75 $1.34 $(0.09) $2.01

(1) Quarterly earnings (loss) per share may not sum to year-to-date or annual

earnings (loss) per share as quarterly calculations are based on weighted average common shares outstanding which may vary for each of those periods.